JJ Bleday hit a home run in the fifth inning to give the A’s the lead. Then, in the seventh inning, he hit another home run, scoring two runs. It was his first time hitting two home runs in one game. The A’s won 5-2 against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday night.
Bleday said, “It’s amazing, a very special night. You always dream about those moments and when it finally happens, it’s just like ‘that’s great.’ But now, I want to set another goal, something else to achieve.”
When asked what that could be, Bleday joked, “Maybe three home runs.”
Mitch Spence pitched well for the A’s, striking out two batters in three innings after replacing starter Alex Wood.
Wood, who joined the team in February, is still looking for his first win in Oakland. He hasn’t pitched more than 5 2/3 innings in any of his seven starts this season.
The A’s got runs from Tyler Nevin and Abraham Toro in the second inning, thanks to RBI singles. They have been playing well lately, winning three out of their last four games. They finished April with a 13-14 record.
Wood commented, “The guys are confident. I think everyone was tired of the struggles from last year. There’s a strong desire to play well and win every game, and you can see it in every player out there.”
